Amid economic challenges, a new report spotlights Pakistan’s controversial 40 percent tax on sanitary pads, a policy that undermines women’s health and empowerment. This tax, unchanged for years, reflects a glaring oversight in a nation striving for progress.
Quantitative insights from the report show average monthly costs for pads eating up 5-10 percent of low-income family budgets, forcing compromises on nutrition or schooling. Rural women, comprising 65 percent of the affected demographic, bear the brunt, with limited clinic access compounding risks.
The tax framework lumps hygiene essentials with luxury items, ignoring WHO recommendations for zero-rating. Neighbors like Sri Lanka have zeroed duties, witnessing a 30 percent uptake in product usage. Pakistani officials defend it as a broad revenue tool, but critics highlight lost opportunities in job-creating local industries.
Activism is intensifying: online petitions have garnered over 100,000 signatures, while female legislators push bills in assemblies. Educational campaigns in schools aim to destigmatize menstruation, but affordability remains the bottleneck. Health metrics link poor menstrual management to higher maternal mortality rates.
The report’s finale urges a phased exemption, starting with subsidized distribution in public sectors. As global spotlights like the Pink Tax movement intensify, Pakistan faces pressure to act. Ending this tax isn’t just fiscal tinkering—it’s a step toward inclusive growth.