Pakistan's finance minister announced the removal of sales tax on menstrual health items, recognizing them as essential for women's health and dignity. The decision follows legal action by young campaigners and addresses period poverty affecting millions of women across the country.
Guardian Global Development · Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Campaigners welcome announcement cutting levies on menstrual health items, but say their work to end period poverty is ‘far from over’Pakistan plans to abolish “period tax”, in a victory for young campaigners who had taken the government to court over the charges.Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that sanitary towels and related items were “daily necessities that are indispensable for women’s health, dignity and full participation in social activities”, and said he intended to remove the sales tax. Continue reading...
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