Today's E-Waste Scrap Rate in Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan

About the scrap market in Gilgit

Gilgit, the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan, operates Pakistan's most remote major scrap market, where material originates from the Karakoram Highway's continuous maintenance, CPEC-related construction, military installations, and a modest hospitality sector serving mountaineering and trekking tourism. The harsh Himalayan climate and logistical challenges of the KKH corridor mean that scrap often accumulates at road-maintenance camps and project sites before being transported to Gilgit's small dealer network. Hydropower micro-projects across the valleys contribute seasonal turbine and penstock scrap.

KKH construction steel—bridge components, retaining-wall reinforcement, tunnel-lining segments—trades at PKR 88–108/kg when brought to Gilgit's yards, though the transport cost from remote project sites can erode margins significantly. Military-surplus steel and aluminium from GB Scouts and Northern Light Infantry installations are released through periodic auctions at PKR 85–100/kg and PKR 420–500/kg respectively. Copper from micro-hydro generators and NTDC transmission upgrades commands PKR 1,780–2,080/kg, reflecting strong demand against limited local supply.

The single-road dependency of the Karakoram Highway means that landslides and winter closures can strand scrap shipments for days; sellers should plan logistics around the stable-weather window of May through October. Gilgit's Jutial and Danyore Road areas serve as the primary trading zones, though dealer capacity is limited compared to down-country markets. For CPEC-origin material, Chinese contractors often handle their own scrap disposal through designated channels, so subcontractors should clarify scrap-ownership terms in their contracts before assuming they can sell project waste independently.