Balochistan PA seeks tax reduction for women’s hygiene products

QUETTA: The Balo­ch­is­tan Assembly on Monday adopted two resolutions on reducing taxes on women’s hygiene and sanitary products, and to stren­gth­­en minority representation at provincial and local levels. The resolution, jointly moved by JUI-F female members Ms Shahida Rauf, Ume Kulsoom. Rehman Baloch and Khair Baloch, demanded the federal government to reduce taxes on women’s health and hygiene products, which are available at high prices. Presenting the resolution, Rehmat Saleh Baloch said menstrual hygiene management was not only a women’s issue but a fundamental human rights and public health concern affecting more than half the population of Balochistan. Citing UNICEF data, he noted that 89 per cent of women and girls in the province lack access to safe and affordable menstrual hygiene products, while only 11 per cent have access. He further said that hea­­vy taxation — including GST, customs duty, and additional levies — has increased the overall tax burden on menstrual hygiene materials to around 40 per cent, effectively treating essential health items as luxury goods. The resolution recommended that the provincial government urge the federal government to exempt sanitary products and raw materials from GST and additional sales tax, or at least reduce them by 50 per cent. Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2026