Pakistan Abolishes Period Tax: Finance Minister Removes Sanitary Products Tax to Support Women's Health

## Introduction Pakistan has taken a historic step toward advancing women's rights and public health after its finance minister announced the abolition of the period tax on sanitary products, a move that comes as a victory for young campaigners who took the government to court over the discriminatory charges. The decision to remove the sanitary products tax was announced by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who stated that sanitary towels and related menstrual items are daily necessities essential for women's health, dignity, and full participation in social activities. Previously, locally made sanitary pads were subject to an 18% sales tax, while imported products faced an additional 25% customs tax, making safe menstrual products unaffordable for millions of low-income women and girls across the country. This policy shift aims to reduce period poverty, support girls' education, and promote gender equality by ensuring that menstrual health products are accessible to all who need them, rather than being treated as a luxury good.

## Background of Pakistan's Decision to Abolish the Sanitary Pads Tax The push to abolish the period tax in Pakistan began in 2025, when two young lawyers, 25-year-old Mahnoor Omer and 29-year-old Ahsan Jehangir Khan, filed a court case challenging the government's imposition of sales tax on menstrual products. The lawyers argued that the taxes constituted a discriminatory 'pink tax' targeting women exclusively, exacerbating the burden of period poverty faced by millions of girls and women across the country. The campaign gained significant traction on social media, with a supportive petition gathering thousands of signatures from Pakistani citizens calling for the zero-rating of sanitary products to exempt them from all forms of taxation. Research from UNICEF highlighted that only a small minority of women in Pakistan use commercial sanitary products due to their high cost, with the majority relying on cloth or homemade alternatives that carry significant health risks, including higher rates of infection and reproductive health complications. This widespread public support and compelling evidence of the negative health impacts of the tax ultimately pushed the government to reconsider its policy, leading to the finance minister's recent announcement.

## Details of the Pakistan Finance Minister's Announcement on Menstrual Products Tax In his official announcement, Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb confirmed that the government will abolish the 18% sales tax on locally manufactured sanitary pads and related menstrual hygiene products, as well as the additional 25% customs tax imposed on imported sanitary products. The minister emphasized that these items are 'daily necessities that are indispensable for women's health, dignity and full participation in social activities', and that removing the tax is a critical step toward reducing gender inequality in the country. Alongside the period tax abolition, the minister also announced the removal of the 18% sales tax on contraceptives, citing 'alarming' population growth rates in Pakistan, which is now the fifth most populous country in the world. He stated that family planning is a top government priority, and that removing taxes on contraceptives will help families access necessary reproductive health services without financial barriers. UN Women welcomed the decision to abolish the sanitary products tax, calling it a positive step toward ensuring that women can remain in the workforce and girls can stay in school without being penalized for their biological needs. The organization reiterated that menstrual health is a matter of health, dignity, and equality, not a luxury.

## Impact of Period Tax Abolition on Women and Girls in Pakistan The abolition of the period tax is expected to have far-reaching positive impacts on the lives of millions of women and girls in Pakistan. One of the most significant effects will be on girls' education, as UNICEF research shows that many girls miss school during their menstrual periods due to an inability to afford safe sanitary products, leading to higher dropout rates and lower educational attainment. By making sanitary pads more affordable, the policy will help girls attend school regularly, improving their long-term economic and social prospects. For working women, the removal of the tax will reduce the financial burden of menstrual products, allowing them to maintain consistent attendance at work and participate more fully in the economy. Additionally, the decision is expected to help reduce the social stigma surrounding menstruation, as the government's recognition of menstrual products as essential necessities rather than luxury goods challenges long-standing cultural taboos. However, activists and rights groups have cautioned that the tax abolition alone will not solve the issue of period poverty, as many vulnerable women in rural areas and low-income communities still cannot afford even reduced-price sanitary products, highlighting the need for additional support measures such as free product distribution and public awareness campaigns.

## Next Steps for Activists After the Period Tax Abolition Announcement While the decision to abolish the period tax has been widely celebrated, activists involved in the campaign have emphasized that the fight for menstrual justice in Pakistan is far from over. Mahnoor Omer, one of the lawyers who filed the original court case, stated that the campaign will continue to push for the removal of all additional charges on menstrual products, including remaining customs duties and local taxes that still keep prices high for consumers. Bushra Mahnoor, executive director of the Pakistani period rights organization Mahwari Justice, noted that the tax abolition is just one step toward combating period poverty in the country, and that true menstrual justice requires more than just affordable products. She highlighted that menstrual justice also means access to clean water, adequate sanitation facilities, accurate menstrual education, and a society free from period stigma. Activists are now calling on the government to implement complementary policies, including free distribution of sanitary products in schools and rural areas, integration of menstrual health education into national school curricula, and investment in public sanitation infrastructure to ensure that all women and girls have access to the resources they need to manage their menstruation with dignity. These steps, activists argue, are essential to achieving full menstrual equity in Pakistan.