Balochistan Assembly seeks tax cut on women’s hygiene products

QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Monday passed two resolutions, including one calling for lower taxes on women’s hygiene and sanitary products and another seeking stronger minority representation at the provincial and local levels.

The resolution on women’s health and hygiene items was jointly tabled by JUI-F women lawmakers Shahida Rauf, Ume Kulsoom, Rehman Baloch and Khair Baloch.

Speaking while presenting the resolution, Rehmat Saleh Baloch said menstrual hygiene management was not only a women’s issue but a basic human rights and public health matter affecting more than half of Balochistan’s population.

He cited UNICEF figures and told the house that 89 per cent of women and girls in the province do not have access to safe and affordable menstrual hygiene products, while only 11 per cent are able to obtain them.

He further said that the tax burden on menstrual hygiene materials had risen to around 40 per cent because of general sales tax, customs duty and other levies, adding that this had effectively placed essential health products in the category of luxury goods.

Call for tax relief

The resolution urged the provincial government to take up the matter with the federal government and seek either a complete exemption of sanitary products and their raw materials from GST and additional sales tax or at least a 50 per cent reduction in these taxes.

The lawmakers said the products were being sold at high prices, making them difficult to afford for many women and girls in the province.

The assembly adopted the resolution as part of its proceedings on Monday.

Minority representation resolution also adopted

Alongside the move on women’s hygiene products, the Balochistan Assembly also approved a separate resolution aimed at improving minority representation at the provincial and local levels.

The discussion in the assembly focused on the cost and accessibility of menstrual hygiene products, with supporters of the resolution arguing that taxation had made essential items more expensive for consumers.

The resolution specifically recommended that sanitary products and the raw materials used in their manufacture should either be exempted from GST and additional sales tax or be given substantial tax relief. According to the mover, such steps would help improve access to basic hygiene products for women and girls across the province.

The house’s adoption of the resolution reflects a formal call from the provincial assembly for federal tax relief on products described during the debate as essential to women’s health and public wellbeing.