Every Ramadan, families check the daily timetable for sehri and iftar. These times decide when to stop eating before dawn and when to break the fast. This guide explains how sehri and iftar times are set, why they differ between cities and how to use a timetable safely. Get today’s times for your city on our Sehri & Iftar Timings page.
When does sehri end?
Sehri (suhoor) is the pre-dawn meal. The fast begins at true dawn (Fajr), when light spreads across the horizon. Eating and drinking must stop at the start of Fajr time.
When is iftar?
The fast ends at sunset, the start of Maghrib time. It is Sunnah to break the fast promptly, traditionally with dates and water.
Why times change daily
Dawn and sunset move a minute or two each day. In a February Ramadan in Pakistan, fasts are around 12.5 to 13 hours; in a summer Ramadan they can exceed 15 hours. Because Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year, fast lengths change gradually; read why Ramadan moves each year.
Why cities differ
| City | Compared with Lahore |
|---|---|
| Karachi | Later sehri end and later iftar |
| Islamabad | Close to Lahore, a few minutes different |
| Quetta | Later, as it is further west |
| Peshawar | Later than Lahore |
Times depend on longitude and latitude, so always use your own city’s timetable.
Safety minutes
Many timetables stop sehri a few minutes before Fajr for caution, and some add a minute or two to iftar. Follow your local mosque or the timetable you trust consistently.
Calculation method
Pakistan’s timetables generally use an 18° Fajr angle. Different apps may use different angles, causing differences of several minutes in sehri time. Learn more in Prayer Times (Namaz Timings).
Using an alarm
Set two alarms for sehri: one to wake up and one 10 minutes before the end time. Our Online Alarm Clock works in the browser.
Fast length calculator
Subtract sehri end from iftar time to know the fast length. For example, sehri ending at 5:05 am and iftar at 6:12 pm means a fast of 13 hours 7 minutes. Check such differences with the Time Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
When should I stop eating at sehri?
Before Fajr begins; many stop a few minutes earlier for caution.
When is iftar?
At sunset, the start of Maghrib.
Why does my app show a different sehri time?
It may use a different Fajr angle or location.