Despite being a signatory to the Basel Convention that restricted importing used/old computers, more than 500,000 used computers are finding ways into Pakistani computer market each year.

These concerns were voiced at a discussion "Cost effective or technology defective" held here on Tuesday.

The speakers from both public and private sectors gathered on the occasion to deliberate on the hazards of electronic waste dumping in Pakistan under the guise of bridging so-called digital and its plus sides.

"Imports of old computers are hurting the local computer industry," said Pakistan Computer Association president Khushnood Aftab, who said there was no protection for the local computer market.

"Sooner or later, we would find literate and skilled computer labour in support, services and assembly businesses out of work, including those 200 who worked for my organisation," said Mr Aftab.

The USA, Singapore and some European countries, to mention some, were using Pakistan a dumping ground for the used computers. Making long journey to the country, some parts of the computers get rusted.

Sorting is done and only 15 to 40 per cent of these computers can be used and the rest is waste and recycled by women and children in godowns working in terrible conditions and exposed to toxic fumes from burning hardware, speakers highlighted.

"Recycling and disposal of computer waste in Pakistan is a serious problem because their treatment methods are rudimentary. Simply tossing them in landfills is bad solution because that also means dumping lead, copper and mercury contained in them. Over time, these heavy metals can leech into the ground and contaminate the soil and ground water causing serious illnesses," said a concerned speaker.

"So much so, a person using an old computer is wasting 60 per cent more energy," said another. Used computer market has been popular with masses for the last seven years due to price differences.

However, this was not true since prices of new computers had drastically declined because of technological advancements. Existing and potential computer users in Pakistan need to be educated about hazards/risks when buying the computers.

"These users need to be given more incentives to buy reliable, warranted and licensed computer goods. Such trends tend to have positive effect on e-waste problem because it directly decreases demand for used PCs and to a large extent decreases risks of releasing toxins during recycling these machines as well as allowing local potential to develop," said the Intel representative.