What is the primary goal of the legal case in Pakistan?

The primary goal is to remove taxes on menstrual products and have them classified as essential goods, not luxuries, to combat period poverty.

How do taxes on menstrual products affect women in Pakistan?

Taxes, including an 18% sales tax and 25% customs tax, lead to a 40% surcharge on period products, making them unaffordable and exacerbating gender inequality in education and health.

What are the broader impacts of period poverty in Pakistan?

Period poverty, compounded by social taboos and misinformation, leads to trauma, isolation, missed educational opportunities for girls, and challenges in accessing adequate menstrual hygiene.

Home / Health / Pakistan Fights Period Poverty With Legal Challenge

Pakistan Fights Period Poverty With Legal Challenge

11 Feb

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Summary

A lawsuit in Pakistan challenges taxes on menstrual products.
The case advocates for sanitary items to be deemed essential goods.
Period poverty exacerbates gender inequality in Pakistan.

Pakistan Fights Period Poverty With Legal Challenge

In Pakistan, a significant legal battle is underway to challenge taxes on menstrual products, advocating for their reclassification as essential goods. This initiative, led by lawyers Mahnoor Omer and Ahsan Jehangir Khan, seeks to address period poverty and its role in deepening gender inequality across education and health sectors.

The case highlights how social taboos surrounding menstruation contribute to policies that make vital sanitary items unaffordable for many. Activists point to a 40% surcharge on period products, exacerbated by an 18% sales tax on local pads and a 25% customs tax on imports, significantly impacting women and girls.

Legal arguments assert that taxing sanitary items violates constitutional rights against gender discrimination and neglects women's access to health and education. This movement aims to inspire a broader conversation about reproductive rights and challenge existing norms, pushing for systemic change and menstrual justice.