Pakistan has reason to celebrate again this month. Bushra Mahnoor, founder of the period education and welfare organisation Mahwari Justice, has been awarded the Commonwealth Youth Award for Asia. She is only the fourth Pakistani to receive this honour and just the second Pakistani woman, with the country’s last win coming six years ago.
The Commonwealth Youth Awards are given out every year to celebrate young people’s contributions to development, with one winner picked from each of five global regions. As a regional winner, Mahnoor will receive a grant of £3,000 to support her organisation’s work.
Mahnoor’s journey began during a crisis. Mahwari Justice was founded in 2022 in response to devastating floods, initially focusing on distributing feminine hygiene kits to affected communities. Since then, her work has expanded significantly. She has worked on period education, created a disability-inclusive guide on menstruation that was translated into braille, and is now having it produced in sign language as well.
Mahnoor also played a key role in a major policy win. She was a strong advocate for removing taxes on feminine hygiene products and helped mobilise 10,000 signatures for the cause. Along with other activists, her efforts contributed to taxes being withdrawn earlier this month as part of the Federal Budget 2026-27.
Her award is a proud moment not just for her organisation, but for the wider movement pushing for menstrual health awareness and accessibility across Pakistan.
