Pakistan has abolished the 18% sales tax on menstrual hygiene products and contraceptives, marking a major policy shift after years of legal challenges, grassroots campaigns and public pressure. The reform, announced in the federal budget for 2026–27, follows a constitutional petition led by activists Mahnoor Omer and Ahsan Jehangir Khan, who argued that taxing menstrual products violated equality and imposed an unfair financial burden on women and girls.
The move brings Pakistan in line with countries such as India, which scrapped its own “period tax” in 2018. Activists say the decision acknowledges that menstrual products are essential health items, not luxury goods, and should never have been taxed as discretionary purchases.
The government also removed the 18% tax on contraceptives, linking the change to concerns over population growth and the need to strengthen family‑planning access. Officials framed both measures as part of a broader effort to ease financial pressures on citizens while addressing long‑standing public‑health challenges.
Campaigners had long argued that the tax regime disproportionately affected low‑income households. Before the reform, menstrual products faced not only sales tax but also customs duties of up to 25% on imported raw materials, along with additional local charges. UNICEF estimated that these combined costs could raise retail prices by up to 40%, making sanitary pads unaffordable for many women.
Women’s rights groups said the tax effectively penalised women for a biological function beyond their control. By treating sanitary products as luxury items, the system reinforced gender inequity and hindered access to basic hygiene.
With the new budget, menstrual products are now classified as essential goods, aligning them with healthcare necessities rather than consumer luxuries. Activists have welcomed the reform as a long‑overdue victory for reproductive justice and economic fairness.