Pakistan Cuts Tax on Menstrual Products and Contraceptives

Pakistan's 2026-27 budget removes the 18% general sales tax on menstrual hygiene products and contraceptives, reclassifying them as health essentials rather than luxury goods. The move targets documented price barriers limiting contraceptive access in rural areas, where usage lags behind cities. How retailers pass savings to consumers remains unclear—similar tax reforms elsewhere have yielded uneven price reductions, especially in informal markets serving lower-income populations.