An Enlightened Step: Tax on Sanitation and Contraceptives Abolished
Every Citizen’s eyes were glued to screens on 12 June as Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced the federal budget: the most celebrated economic event of the country. The fate of 250 million people was decided for the next year; the economic measures were welcomed by many, while the critics were also standing in the front row. Among the dozens of economic and newly imposed policy measures, one decision came as a breath of fresh air for half the country’s population. The government abolished the tax on sanitary and contraceptive products, which included a 18% GST on local items and an additional 25% customs duty on imported items in the last fiscal year.
Population is a wealth for any country, but here it’s increasingly becoming a burden. The sole indicator, which is increasing in the country over the past 70 years, is the population chart; the rest of the sectors struggle to sustain persistent growth. The country’s population has crossed the 250 million mark, with 67% of the Youth bulge, while among them, around 5 million enter the job market every year. But population control and contraception are snail-paced, like economic growth. Among the many frustrating factors, one right step feels like an oasis in a desert, at least those sitting in power corridors have realized the seriousness of the issue.
Sanitary products and contraceptives, which Pakistan mostly imports, were listed in the luxury segment, so the government was grabbing 18% GST on the sale of every product. If we add the import duties and global price volatility, every menstruating woman was compelled to pay higher prices for the basic needs of life. For the middle- and lower-income classes, which constitute a significant portion of the women’s masses, it was difficult to afford sanitary products, even basic items like pads. In a country where sex education and awareness are neglected, such faulty policies were hindering the safe and secure lives of the girls and women.
On the other hand, contraception is a budding challenge Pakistan has been facing for decades. Bangladesh, which was born out of us, has reached a 64% contraception rate, while we are still lagging at 34%. Keeping the domestic disparities, cultural taboos, early-age marriages, and meager state investment in view, the increase in contraceptive methods and decrease in population is a mammoth task the policymakers have to deal with in the coming years. Yet, a step towards the right path is an enlightening endeavour.
While many on social media across the country appreciated the step, many users reminded that the issue in Pakistan is not the lack of affordability, although it’s a small fraction; the real issue lies in the people’s minds: they are innately reluctant to adopt safety measures. Mentioned earlier, many factors at home exacerbate the situation around the use of contraceptives, among them, the lack of sex education is prime. In the country’s already outdated education system, modern and sensitive topics are pushed outside the books and mainstream educational resources.
Ease and availability of menstrual products and contraceptives are fundamental to the growth of the country. The policy goals must not stop at merely lessening the prices of the products, but to promote the use of such products in rural and semi-rural areas of the country, which comprise 60% of the country’s population. The citizens must be encouraged to use the products and talk about the safety measures in public places like universities, offices, and societal gatherings. Abolishing the tax is the first step towards a prosperous society; the later steps are awareness, social acceptance, and formal integration into the lifestyle.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Opinion Desk.
