Challenging the Tax on Menstrual Pads in Pakistan

In a society where discussing menstruation is taboo, Bushra Mahnoor is making strides to redefine menstrual health access in Pakistan. Photographed in her Attock home, Mahnoor highlights the personal shame she endured growing up without proper menstrual products. Her organization, Mahwari Justice, recently took legal action to demand a shift in how menstrual supplies are categorized, aiming to have them recognized as essential rather than luxury items.

Bushra's adolescence was marred by the stigma of menstruation, which often meant missing school due to inadequate supplies. Often stretching the use of pads far beyond their intended duration, Bushra and her sisters would sometimes resort to using makeshift pads made from cloth or rags.

This reality is not unique to her, with reports indicating that only a small fraction of Pakistani women have access to commercially produced menstrual products. Fear of social stigma and being unprepared for school often kept Bushra from attending classes during her cycle.

Ideas like school uniforms in white further compounded the anxiety of possible stains — a concern vividly demonstrated when a classmate was made to stand aside to hide a stain, marking the embarrassment linked with menstruation.

Mahnoor learned to make excuses to skip school each month, fostering a sense of discomfort and embarrassment tied to her natural cycle.

Legal and Cultural Barriers

Now 25, Mahnoor is determined to change things for future generations. She has taken up a leadership role in advocating for a reclassification of menstrual supplies as essential goods through her nonprofit. This legal effort hopes to mitigate the financial barrier imposed by the luxury tax on these essentials.

Despite knowing these challenges first-hand, Bushra isn't alone in this fight. Researchers like those at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health recognize the broad issue of accessing menstrual products globally, pointing out how they often fall through the cracks in public health strategies due to societal stigma.

Countries including Malawi and Ethiopia recently made impactful changes, reclassifying menstruation supplies as essential items. These shifts in policy are part of a growing global awareness over the last five years.

A Personal Perspective

Recalling her first period at age 10, Mahnoor dealt with confusion about using pads properly and was unable to seek guidance due to cultural silences surrounding menstruation. Many families encourage secrecy around periods to avoid triggering early marriages.

Mahnoor notes the broader societal issue wherein cultural pressures enforce secrecy about menstruation to the extent that it influences school attendance and even marriage.

During natural disasters like the 2022 floods in Pakistan, the urgent need for menstrual products was evident, yet largely overlooked in relief efforts. This spurred Mahnoor into action, pushing for awareness through social media and on-the-ground initiatives.

Towards a More Equitable Future

Encountering women in relief camps who shared single pieces of cloth for menstruation was a stark wake-up call for Mahnoor about the dire need for affordable hygiene solutions.

Systemic issues like high taxes on necessary products exacerbate these challenges. A pending lawsuit seeks to reclassify menstrual products as essential, challenging the current unfair financial burden. The legal journey is expected to be long, drawing from precedents like Nepal, where a similar tax was only recently repealed after four years.

Even if the tax is abolished, price reductions may not be immediate, but the symbolic value of such a reclassification carries significant weight in the fight for menstrual equity in Pakistan.

Bushra understands that while the struggle is uphill, changing the status of menstrual products signifies a step towards breaking the generational shame and financial burdens associated with them.