Pakistan Plans to Remove Sales Tax on Menstrual Products

In an effort to improve access to menstrual hygiene products, Pakistan announced the removal of the 18 percent sales tax on menstrual pads and tampons starting in July. This decision aims to make these essential products more affordable in a country struggling with limited knowledge and access to menstrual hygiene.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted the importance of these products for women’s health, dignity, and social participation. The proposed change was well-received by women’s rights activists, who view it as a significant step for menstrual health rights in Pakistan.

This decision follows a public discussion sparked by an activist who took legal action against the government over the taxes imposed on sanitary pads and tampons. The discussion highlights the critical need for policy changes in a nation where only 12 percent of menstruating girls and women use commercial sanitary pads, according to UNICEF. In contrast, neighboring India has a usage rate of 36 percent.

Despite this progress, activists emphasize that more efforts are needed to ensure wider access to menstrual products and to challenge the stigma surrounding menstruation. Many girls and women in rural areas rely on unhygienic alternatives such as rags and cloths. As a result, one in five Pakistani girls misses school during their menstrual cycle, as estimated by UNICEF.

Activist and lawyer Mahnoor Omer highlighted the ongoing period poverty crisis when she filed a petition to have sanitary pads and tampons declared essential items. Her efforts brought attention to this issue and earned her recognition as one of Time magazine’s “women of the year.” The court is set to rule on her petition later this year.