Bushra Mahnoor, executive director of the Pakistani nonprofit Mahwari Justice, filed a lawsuit in September 2025 aimed at reclassifying menstrual products from luxury items to essential goods. The objective of the lawsuit is to eliminate taxes on these products, potentially lowering prices and improving affordability.
Mahnoor's personal experiences in Pakistan include shame, stigma, and lacking sufficient menstrual supplies during adolescence, leading to school absenteeism. A 2025 UNICEF report indicated that only approximately one in ten girls and women in Pakistan use commercially manufactured menstrual products. The secrecy surrounding menstruation, often linked to avoiding child marriage, contributes to the isolating experience for girls.
Professor Marni Sommer of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health notes that access to menstrual products is a global issue. Historically, this issue has lacked dedicated funding and resources due to its interdisciplinary nature, falling between global health, education, and gender efforts. Emily Cruz of the nonprofit Splash observes increased attention and policy changes in individual countries over the past five years, such as Malawi and Ethiopia removing taxes and duties on feminine hygiene products. In Pakistan, the UNICEF report identified no national policy or strategy for menstrual health and hygiene.
Women in Pakistan without access to commercial pads often resort to alternatives like cotton pads within cloth, or simply cloth. These improvised methods are often dried indoors to maintain secrecy, preventing proper sanitization and increasing the risk of bacterial growth, irritation, and reproductive tract infections. Some individuals in tribal areas reportedly use mud or sand for absorbency.
The lawsuit specifically challenges Pakistan's imposition of nearly 40% tax on menstrual products, classifying them as luxury items instead of essential goods. The legal challenge invokes Article Six of Pakistan's Constitution, which exempts essential items, including medical supplies and even cattle semen, from certain taxes. Mahnoor argues this tax is discriminatory, primarily burdening women and those with limited financial resources. While a hearing date for the lawsuit is pending due to political and judicial instability, Mahnoor acknowledges that success may not immediately guarantee a significant price reduction, citing India's 2019 experience where tax removal did not lead to an immediate major price drop. However, it would hold significant symbolic value.