Pakistan Moves to Abolish Sales Tax on Sanitary Products

In the early-June 2026 budget, Pakistan’s federal government announced the removal of the 18% sales tax on sanitary pads and contraceptives.

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The petition filed in October by lawyers Ahsan Jehangir Khan and Mahnoor Omer claimed tax violated Article 25’s ban on sex-based discrimination. A Rawalpindi court ordered response in late November 2025.

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October (year unspecified): petition filed; Late November (year unspecified): Rawalpindi court orders response; Early June 2026: budget removes 18% sales tax; Later: final judicial arguments scheduled.

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UNICEF reports only 12% of Pakistani women and girls use sanitary products. Sales, customs and other levies add a 40% surcharge, while 45% of the population lives below the World Bank’s poverty line. A ten-pad pack costs over one-third of a day’s income.

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Removing the sales tax is expected to reduce the price of sanitary products, potentially expanding access for low-income women and girls. UN Women says affordability could boost school attendance and work participation, while activists note de-stigmatisation.

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Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb called sanitary items indispensable for women’s health and linked the tax cut to government’s family-planning agenda. The government said tax structure is needed for revenue that funds services for women. UN Women welcomed step as important for affordability; UNICEF supplied usage and pricing data.

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Lawyers Ahsan Jehangir Khan and Mahnoor Omer say the reform leaves customs duties unchanged. Activist Bushra Mahnoor warns the change may not reach the most vulnerable menstruators and stresses de-stigmatisation as vital as price cuts.

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The government says the tax is needed for revenue; petitioners call it unconstitutional discrimination. The budget only removes the sales tax, leaving other levies unchanged, so price impact is unclear. No data on cuts or timelines released.

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• “indispensable for women’s health, dignity and full participation in social activities,” — Muhammad Aurangzeb, Finance Minister of Pakistan

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• “If there was never a constitutional petition, the government would not have woken up to the fact that even the sales tax is wrong,” — Ahsan Jehangir Khan, Lawyer

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• “More than the impact this tax removal is going to have in prices, is the impact it has in de-stigmatizing menstruation, and we should not take that lightly,” — Bushra Mahnoor, Reproductive-Justice Activist

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• “‘Our fight is very much ongoing’ The UN Women agency welcomed the “important step” on Monday, saying that increased affordability of menstrual products will enable more women and girls to stay in the workplace and school.” — UN Women

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The judiciary will hear final arguments, after which a ruling could require removal of all taxes on sanitary products, including customs duties. Civil-society groups plan to monitor price changes and access.

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