ISLAMABAD — Mark your calendars. Today, Monday June 22, 2026, is the longest day of the year for Pakistan and most of the Northern Hemisphere.
It’s called the summer solstice. Basically, the Earth is tilted toward the sun at its maximum angle right now. That means we get more direct sunlight and the sun takes a longer path across the sky.
How long is “long” today
Depends where you are.
- Peshawar: Sunrise 5:05am, Sunset 7:20pm. About 14 hours 15 minutes of daylight.
- Lahore: Around 14 hours 10 minutes
- Karachi: About 13 hours 45 minutes
- Gilgit/Chitral: Even longer, close to 15 hours
The night? Barely 9-10 hours. If you’re fasting, sehri ends earlier and iftar comes late. Peshawar iftar is expected around 7:28pm today.
What people are feeling on the ground
Met Office already flagged high heat. Jacobabad, Multan and Dera Ismail Khan could touch 45°C+. In Peshawar markets, shopkeepers opened early to beat the heat. “Subah 7 baje dukan khol di, dopahar me band kar deni hai,” one trader told reporters.
WAPDA also warned of extra load shedding during peak hours. More ACs + longest day = more pressure on the grid.
Why this matters beyond the heat
Farmers actually like the solstice. Longer sunlight helps wheat and rice crops grow faster. But they’re being advised to irrigate at dawn or after maghrib to stop water from evaporating.
After today, the days will slowly start shrinking again. By September 22 we’ll hit the autumn equinox, when day and night are almost equal at 12 hours each.
Final Thought
The summer solstice is just astronomy doing its thing, but it hits us in real ways — longer roza hours, higher electricity bills, and a sun that feels like it won’t set. It’s a reminder that Pakistan’s climate is only getting tougher.
So drink more water, stay out of the 12-4pm sun, and check on elderly neighbors today. The light will fade eventually. Until then, let’s take care of each other while we’re all under the same long, hot sky.
Brick is a professional content writer specializing in informational and research-based articles. He focuses on creating accurate, well-structured, and reader-friendly content designed to inform users and support search engine visibility.
