Pakistani Women Are Rewriting the Script on Women’s Health

In Pakistan, women’s health has long been ignored, underfunded, and stigmatized. Maternal mortality remains high, menstrual health is treated as shameful, and preventable diseases like cervical cancer continue to claim lives. But now, a new generation of Pakistani women is changing the story. They are not waiting for the system to fix itself — they are building homegrown solutions designed for women, by women.

One of them is Sadaf Altaf, who grew up learning that periods were something to hide. Determined to end that silence, she founded Superwomen.pk, an e-commerce and advocacy platform that makes menstrual health part of everyday conversation. Through Pakistan’s first period comic book and awareness sessions in schools and workplaces, Superwomen helps girls and women talk openly about their bodies. During the 2022 floods, her team distributed thousands of sanitary pads to displaced women — items often ignored in relief efforts. For Altaf, the goal is to normalize menstrual health as a basic human concern.

For Madeeha Malik, the inspiration came from her own ancestral village. When she learned that women were using cow dung during their periods, she knew she had to act. Leaving her teaching job, she founded Fempure — a startup that produces biodegradable sanitary pads using locally made machines. Fempure also distributes reusable menstrual kits and promotes workplace inclusivity through its “period positive” certification. With only 17 percent of Pakistani women having access to sanitary napkins, Malik’s work goes far beyond manufacturing. It’s about tackling stigma, ensuring quality, and reshaping health policies that treat women’s needs as luxuries.

The same determination drives the women behind CerviTest — a company addressing the deadly neglect of cervical cancer screening. Founders Bushra Zafar and Nadia Kellman created a self-administered test that women can use at home. The kit can be collected from a pharmacy, used privately, and returned for results by text message. In a country where cultural barriers prevent many women from visiting doctors, this innovation could save countless lives. As Kellman said, “In the West, home testing is about convenience. Here, it’s about life or death.”

Another group of women decided to focus on mothers’ mental health. After experiencing postpartum depression and a lack of support, Ummam Baig and Meesha Baig launched Goud — a pregnancy and postpartum app tailored for Pakistani women. It provides medically verified information, connects users through WhatsApp support groups, and offers a safe space to share experiences. Unlike global apps built for Western families, Goud reflects the cultural and emotional realities of Pakistani households. For many users, it has been a lifeline — one woman even said the app saved her marriage.

These initiatives are now finding strength in numbers. The Femtech Innovation Hub, a collaboration between CERP, LUMS, and the Gates Foundation, is helping 35 women-led startups in Pakistan develop sustainable health solutions. The program offers mentorship, partnerships, and access to policymakers — turning small, isolated efforts into a growing national movement.

Each of these women has turned personal pain into purpose, reshaping what health innovation looks like in Pakistan. Together, they are proving that women’s health is not a luxury or side issue but the foundation of a thriving society. By meeting needs that have been ignored for generations, they are redefining public health — and in doing so, they are rewriting the future of women in Pakistan.