Ban on import of used computers under study

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

Ban on import of used computers under study

Monday March 08, 2010 (1149 PST)

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.

Pakistan News Service - PakTribune

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

such a ban is highly unlikely , because many of the stores these days sell used computers imported from Europe America and Japan . Plus Alot of side on business like computer repairing and stores of 2nd hand spares like sound cards, VGAs and motherboards are directly or indirectly linked with it .

 

[TopCat]

Dont you guys have Clone computers? Means non brand made of Chinese parts. Why used computers? does not make any sense.

 

[Spring Onion]

Dont you guys have Clone computers? Means non brand made of Chinese parts. Why used computers? does not make any sense.

Yeh we have these also.

Not only Chinese parts but origional ones too.

But the business of used computers is also booming and container lap tops, LCDs etc are a big business.

I wonder why they want to ban it.

 

[Spring Onion]

May be PPP leader is not getting share thats why

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Interesting move but how can poor person view the internet ?

If ppl are interested about electricity may be they should invest 2 billion dollar in solar farming frist

 

[Spring Onion]

but this ban is beyond understanding

 

[Justin Joseph]

but this ban is beyond understanding

yes, this types of rules are silly and anti people.

I think some industry lobby is behind it so that they can benefit by forcefully selling to the customers who is happy with his/her second hand computer.

 

[Spring Onion]

yes, this types of rules are silly and anti people.

I think some industry lobby is behind it so that they can benefit by forcefully selling to the customers who is happy with his/her second hand computer.

Most probably someome from ruling party is trying to benefit its blue-eyed

 

[sparklingway]

May be PPP leader is not getting share thats why

Maybe because it was first recommended in the budget 2005-06 and maybe because the UNICEF has reservations about children in Lyari suffering from mercury poisoning and Lyari River (read nullah) has been polluted with mercury from the used parts.

Not every story is riddled with corruption. Try to read about the topics

 

[BATMAN]

I agree that used electronics and computers should be banned because they are adding junk but we have other stuff like used TV and importing junk battries, disposition of our trash in open may hurt the lyari kids more than used PC junk.
Despite the positive nature of the proposal..... i can bet that 10% cut is also part of the deal.

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

Most probably someome from ruling party is trying to benefit its blue-eyed

i smell a sweetheart in all this .Or maybe they want the laptop industry to thrive as Laptop business has increased tenfolds over just last three years ..!

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

I agree that used electronics and computers should be banned because they are adding junk but we have other stuff like used TV and importing junk battries, disposition of our trash in open may hurt the lyari kids more than used PC junk.
Despite the positive nature of the proposal..... i can bet that 10% cut is also part of the deal.

I understand the positive implications but there should be a mechanism for smooth transition rather than abruptly banning the import of second hand electronics coz there are many people which rely on this business for their living .

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

Proposal to ban import of used computers slammed’

Tuesday, March 09, 2010
By By Israr Khan
ISLAMABAD: The multinational companies dealing in new computers have again started forcing the government to ban the import of used computers and IT accessories. Market sources said that if the ban was materialized, computers and paraphernalia would go out of reach of middle-income groups and the small local IT businesses would be devastated.

The Ministry of Information Technology was considering the proposal presented by these companies and other interest groups. Market sources say that any move to ban import of cheap used computers would affect literacy and computer skills of the general public.

The Pakistan Computer Association (PCA) Monday rejected the proposal and termed the move, “unjust and based on malevolence,” as it would only benefit multinational companies dealing in new computers.

The president of PCA, Munawar Iqbal said that some international companies, manufacturing computer hardware with the help of some local profit-seekers had been pressing the government to impose a ban on import of used computers and IT equipment, obviously to control the local market.

“The multinational companies are trying to get a ban imposed on import of second-hand computers to capture the market, but the government should realize that a large number of poor people cannot afford to buy a new computer costing between Rs25,000 and Rs45,000,” Munawar Iqbal said, adding that the price of a used desktop PC ranged between Rs5,000 and Rs10,000.

At present, there is no indigenous manufacture of computers and IT equipment. All computers, used and new, are being imported. The ban would deprive poor students of their right to modern education and the country would lose millions of dollars in foreign exchange if the proposal was approved, he said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=227882

 

[Creder]

its probably the foreign companies trying to fill the pockets of likes of zaradari so they could get there hands on pakistan's IT market

On another note, the way pakistani guys use computers they should be banned lol