Islamabad: In a rare move aimed at curbing Pakistan’s runaway population growth, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the immediate waiver of all taxes on contraceptive products to make them affordable and widely accessible across the country.
The unprecedented decision, taken during a high-level meeting on August 7, 2025, is being described by population experts as a “long overdue intervention” to address one of the biggest threats to Pakistan’s economic and social stability.
Confirming the development, an official in the ministry of health said the Prime Minister had issued clear directives to remove all duties and taxes on contraceptives “without delay” and instructed the concerned ministries to ensure swift implementation. “The PM has given the go-ahead, now it is up to the Finance Division and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to turn this into law,” the official told Vitals News.
However, senior officials in the FBR have hinted that the actual implementation could hit a procedural roadblock, as the tax waiver may require a nod from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before it becomes part of Pakistan’s fiscal policy. “We can only move forward once we receive a green signal from the IMF,” said one senior FBR officials.
Officials in the Ministry of National Health Services (MoNHS) argue there should be no delay in implementing the PM’s decision, pointing out that the revenue generated from taxing contraceptives is negligible compared to the colossal healthcare costs arising from Pakistan’s surging population, now estimated at over 241 million.
“The economic burden of unplanned births, malnutrition, maternal deaths, and child illnesses far outweighs whatever small income the government earns from taxing contraceptives,” one senior health official said.
Pakistan’s population growth rate currently stands at a staggering 2.55%—one of the highest in the world—adding roughly 6 million people every year. This growth is straining healthcare, education, housing, food security, and employment systems to breaking point. Experts warn that without aggressive family planning measures, the country’s population could surpass 400 million by 2050, pushing millions more into poverty.
Public health advocates have long demanded tax relief on contraceptives to boost their uptake, especially among low-income families. According to UNFPA data, Pakistan’s contraceptive prevalence rate is just 34%, one of the lowest in South Asia, with an unmet need for family planning among 17% of married women of reproductive age.
The Prime Minister’s directive has been hailed by reproductive health organisations, but they stress that tax exemptions alone will not be enough. “We need parallel investments in awareness campaigns, rural outreach, and ensuring a reliable supply chain of contraceptives,” said a senior representative of a major international NGO working in Pakistan.
For now, all eyes are on the Finance Division, FBR, and the IMF, as bureaucratic delays could stall what many experts describe as a policy decision that could save the country billions in future healthcare and social welfare costs. As one health ministry official bluntly put it: “Every day of delay means thousands of unplanned pregnancies—and more pressure on an already collapsing system.”
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