Pakistan Plans to Abolish Sales Tax on Menstrual Products
Activists highlight the urgent need for more substantial action to address a significant issue in Pakistan: only 12% of women and girls in the country use safe, commercially made menstrual products. Many Pakistani women and girls struggle to afford sanitary pads and tampons. UNICEF estimates that taxes contribute approximately 40% to the products’ cost.
Pakistan aims to eliminate the sales tax on menstrual products starting in July, intending to make these essentials more affordable in a nation with low access to and awareness of menstrual hygiene.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb unveiled a plan to remove the 18% sales tax on pads and tampons. He emphasized that these products are vital for women’s health, dignity, and full participation in social activities.
Women and rights advocates celebrated this announcement, considering it a victory for menstrual health rights. This initiative follows an extensive dialogue sparked last year when an activist contested the government’s tax policy on sanitary products in court.
In Pakistan, the fifth-most-populous nation globally, merely 12% of menstruating girls and women use commercially available sanitary pads, as reported by UNICEF. In comparison, neighboring India has a usage rate of 36%.
However, activists argue that further measures are necessary to help women access menstrual products and dispel the stigma surrounding menstruation. In rural areas and conservative families, unhygienic cloths and old rags are common substitutes. UNICEF estimates that one in five Pakistani girls misses school due to her menstrual cycle.
Mahnoor Omer, a 25-year-old activist and lawyer, voiced concerns about “period poverty” in Pakistan, triggering a national debate. Last year, she submitted a petition to the high court, advocating to declare sanitary products as essential goods akin to certain food items. The court’s decision is anticipated later this year. Omer gained recognition as one of Time magazine’s “women of the year” for her efforts.