ISLAMABAD: The ministry of information technology, on President Asif Ali Zardari’s instructions, has been asked to draft a proposal for ban on the import of used computers and IT accessories.
No vendor/seller will be able to sell used/old computers in case the ban is imposed, eventually causing computer prices to go up 4 times at least. Computer manufacturers say used computers, dumped by the developed countries, are high-energy consumption devices, which cause environmental and social damage besides causing economic loss. Those opposing the ban argue that availability of used/old computers in the market has resulted in high PC penetration as a result of low price. They are cost-saving and a boost for economy for multiple domains, such as ISPs, vendors, FMCGs, advertising, media etc
Clearly computer manufacturers are campaigning for ban on sale of old/used computers to capture their share - instead of investing in country to set up a manufacturing plant, like they did in India.
It must be kept in mind that a common man cannot afford to buy a new computer for Rs40,000. There are some 14,00,000 computers in Pakistan, of which 60 per cent are used/old computers, 24 per cent internationally assembled new computers while 16 per cent are locally assembled new computers.
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