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Pakistan's 40% Luxury Tax on Menstrual Pads Sparks Outrage

Pakistan continues to classify menstrual pads as luxury goods, imposing a 40% tax despite global trends to remove such levies. A 2025 UNICEF report notes the absence of any national policy for menstrual health and hygiene in the country. Activists like Bushra Mahnoor have petitioned and filed a lawsuit to reclassify these products as essential items, but political instability has stalled progress. In contrast, India removed its 12% tax on menstrual hygiene products in 2018 to improve affordability and access.

Key Points: Pakistan's 40% Tax on Menstrual Pads: A Luxury Item?

  • 40% luxury tax on pads
  • No national menstrual health policy
  • Petition with 10,000 signatures filed
  • Lawsuit to reclassify as essential goods
  • India abolished similar tax in 2018
2 min read

Pakistan continues to impose 40 pc tax on menstrual pads: Report

Pakistan imposes a 40% luxury tax on menstrual pads, with no national health policy, while India abolished such taxes in 2018.

"period products are not... Instead, there's almost 40 per cent of tax on pads - Bushra Mahnoor"

New Delhi, Jan 16

In Pakistan, menstrual pads are a luxury item, and the government continues to impose a 40 per cent tax on period products, according to a media report.

While menstrual health has gained significant attention, and many countries, including Malawi and Ethiopia, have worked in the last five years to remove different types of taxes and import duties, Pakistan continues to see menstrual pads as a luxury good, the NPR.org reported.

"Pakistan imposes a luxury tax on period products. They're not taxed as normal sales items, and they're not given the exemption of essential items," the report said.

As per a 2025 UNICEF report, there is "no national policy, plan, or strategy for menstrual health and hygiene" in Pakistan.

Bushra Mahnoor, executive director at Mahwari Justice, a nonprofit in Pakistan advocating for menstrual health, told NPR that the country's Constitution "gives an exemption to a lot of products that are considered essential items, like medical supplies and, for the cattle industry, cattle semen is considered essential -- and period products are not. Instead, there's almost 40 per cent of tax on pads".

In 2025, Mahnoor's team got over 10,000 signatures for a petition to remove the luxury tax on menstrual products. In September, a lawsuit was also filed in the country to reclassify menstrual products from luxury products to essential goods. But due to the unstable political and judicial nature of the country, the petitioners are yet to receive a date for the court hearing, the report said.

Meanwhile, India abolished the menstrual tax in July 2018, making it 100 per cent tax-exempt to improve affordability and access for better menstrual hygiene, especially for girls' education.

The decision removed a 12 per cent tax, treating menstrual hygiene items as essential goods rather than luxuries.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Cattle semen is essential but pads are not? This says a lot about the priorities of that system. It's a basic hygiene product, not a luxury car. Glad we sorted this out years ago.
S
Sarah B
While it's easy to point fingers, we should remember that many women in rural India still struggle with access and affordability despite the tax removal. Our focus should also be on improving distribution and awareness here at home.
A
Arjun K
This is a human rights issue, plain and simple. A 40% tax is a huge burden on families, especially the poor. It will keep girls out of school. Hats off to the activists like Bushra Mahnoor fighting this battle.
K
Kavya N
It's 2025! How can any country not have a national policy for menstrual health? This isn't about politics, it's about basic decency. Hope the court hears the petition soon. Women's health cannot wait.
M
Michael C
The comparison with Malawi and Ethiopia is telling. When countries with far fewer resources are making period products accessible, it highlights how regressive this policy is. Economic sense and public health demand this tax be scrapped.

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