‘Period tax’ on sanitary products to be abolished, says Pakistan minister | Global development
Pakistan plans to abolish its “period tax” in a victory for young campaigners who took the government to court over the accusations.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said he aims to abolish sales tax, explaining that sanitary towels and related items are “indispensable daily needs for women’s health, dignity and full participation in social activities.”
In Pakistan, commercial period products are used only by a minority of women due to their cost. Research from Unicef. Many use fabric or homemade alternatives, which can be unsafe and increase the risk of infection.
Two lawyers, 25-year-old Mahnoor Omer and 29-year-old Ahsan Jehangir Khan, filed a lawsuit last year seeking to zero-rate hygiene products so they would not be subject to any tax. They said the charges amounted to a “pink tax” on women.
Their campaign was very successful on social media and supporting petition It collected thousands of signatures.
In Pakistan, domestically produced period products are subject to 18% sales tax, while imported products are subject to 25% additional customs duty.
UN Women said: decision to repeal sales tax It was a welcome move to help women stay in work and girls stay in school. She said: “Menstrual health is a matter of health, dignity and equality, not a luxury.”
Ömer welcomed the announcement but said the fight was “definitely not over”, and said they would continue to push for the removal of all surcharges on period products.
Bushra Mahnoor, chief executive of Pakistan’s period rights organization Mahwari Justice, said the decision was “just one step towards tackling period poverty” in the country.
HE he told CNN Its most valuable impact was probably that it removed the stigma surrounding menstruation, but safe hygiene products were still unaffordable for the most vulnerable women.
She said: “Menstrual justice also means access to clean water, sanitation, accurate menstrual education and a society free of period stigma.
“This moment is very important, but our work is not done yet.”
Aurangzeb also said that the government will no longer impose 18% sales tax on birth control pills.
He said it was necessary to abolish the tax on birth control methods in the face of “alarming” population growth, adding: “Pakistan is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of population… Family planning is the government’s top priority.”
