Pakistan announces the elimination of taxes on menstrual products.
Pakistan’s finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, announced plans to eliminate the sales tax applied to sanitary towels and related menstrual health products. The measure follows a campaign led by lawyers Mahnoor Omer and Ahsan Jehangir Khan, who challenged the taxes in court and argued that they constituted a “pink tax” affecting women. Until now, locally manufactured menstrual products were subject to an 18% sales tax, while imported products faced an additional 25% customs duty. The campaign also gained significant visibility through social media and a petition that gathered thousands of signatures.
Advocates view the decision as progress, but stress that challenges remain.
Organizations and advocates welcomed the announcement as a positive step toward improving access to menstrual health products. UN Women stated that the measure could help women remain in employment and girls continue attending school. However, campaigners emphasized that eliminating the sales tax does not fully address period poverty in Pakistan. Bushra Mahnoor, director of Mahwari Justice, noted that many vulnerable women still cannot afford safe menstrual products and highlighted the importance of access to clean water, sanitation facilities, menstrual education, and efforts to reduce stigma. The government also announced the removal of the 18% sales tax on contraceptives, citing concerns about population growth and the importance of family planning.
Reference
Lay, K. (2026, June 17). ‘Period tax’ on sanitary products to be abolished, says Pakistan minister. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jun/17/period-tax-sanitary-products-abolished-pakistan-minister