Pak imports all computers
By Sandhya

Pakistan, like India, has cutting edge nuclear and defense technology.  It even has a successful IT-ITES outsourcing sector.  At the micro outsourcing level, Pakistan closely trails India. All this is not surprising as people of both the countries have the same heritage and equal skills sets.  When Pakistan gets more political stability, its IT-ITES sector will be better placed to successfully challenge India.

Did you know that Pakistan does not have a single personal computer manufacturing plant?  Every computer – new and used – being operated in Pakistan has been imported.

So, what does the Government do to reduce dependence on second hand computers being imported into the country? Instead of working on plans to set up manufacturing units so it can supply cheap computers, the Pakistani President Zardari writes to the IT Ministry asking for proposal on the pros and cons of banning the import of used computers and accessories.

Understandably, older, second computers consume more power and Pakistan may be misused as a dumping ground for E waste.  But the solution is first setting up new plants which can supply cheap computers to locals, and then look at a ban. Also, to put in checks and balances so that second hand computers can only be imported if they meet certain green criterion.

According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, the main beneficiary of such a ban would be Intel which is the biggest suppler of chips in Pakistan. Intel has set up a plant in India but not in Pakistan. Dawn quoted Pakistan Computers Association president Munawar Mughal as saying: “Multinational companies are trying to get a ban imposed on import of second-hand computers to capture the market, but the government should realise that a large number of poor people cannot afford to buy a new computer costing between Rs25,000 and Rs45,000. The price of a used desktop PC ranges between Rs5,000 and Rs10,000. “

Apparently, not only do most students but even educational institutes buy and use imported second hand computers.