Based on: my own experience over about 4 years · Last updated: October 2026
Please note: I am not a doctor. This is my personal experience, not medical advice. Allergies have different causes in different people, so please talk to your own doctor.
Every year, after 15 September, my nose starts running, my eyes itch, and I have no energy to work or even go outside. I have noticed it for about 4 years now. A doctor told me it is rhinitis allergy, and that for sensitive people like me it can be triggered by smog, dust and pollen. Faisalabad gets thick smog for about 3 months, so every October I leave for the north. This post is the honest story of why, and why Shogran is the place I pick.
What happens to me
- Sneezing
- A runny or blocked nose
- Itchy eyes
- A cough
- No energy to work or go out for anything
It begins with haze that irritates my eyes. That is how I know it is starting.
When it starts, and how I track it
It starts after 15 September, gets worse by the end of September, and is at its peak by about 10 October. The smog in Faisalabad then stays for about 3 months, until rain or fog clears it.
I use the IQAir app on my phone. Whenever the Air Quality Index goes above about 130, my allergy symptoms start. On the US scale, 101 to 150 is called unhealthy for sensitive groups, which matches my experience. The smog is thickest at night at that level.
Getting a diagnosis took several doctors
I had to change several doctors to find the root cause. The last doctor identified it as rhinitis allergy. He explained that in sensitive cases it can be caused by smog, dust and pollen. We could have done several tests to find the exact cause, but the diagnosis was rhinitis.
He gave me medicines first, but after a few hours I felt the same, so he also gave me a vaccine.
What I use now, as prescribed to me
- Rinoclenil spray: I use it when I feel any symptom of the allergy.
- A yearly vaccine: I take Influvac by Abbott or Anflu by Sinovac, as my doctor advised.
I am sharing these only because they are what my doctor prescribed me. They may not suit you. Both Influvac and Anflu are flu vaccines, not allergy treatments, so I am not saying a vaccine treats smog allergy. I am only telling you what I do and what I notice. Please ask your own doctor what is right for you.
Why I do not just stay indoors
Because the smog stays for about 3 months, and I hate being stuck in a room or in my city. So at the start of October I begin my medicines and leave for the northern areas, to get clean air.
What I notice in the mountains
- It is not instant. It usually takes 2 to 3 days to feel better in the mountains, not the same day.
- I stay 7 to 10 days. I take my vaccine and then spend that time in the north.
- When I come back, the smog in Faisalabad does not bother me as it used to. I also do not get the flu for about a year.
- Nothing in the north sets it off for me. What matters is being in a high-altitude place with clean air.
I do not know exactly why the smog stops bothering me after I return, and I am not claiming it is the vaccine or the mountain air alone. I am telling you what has happened to me for several years.
Why Shogran is my pick
Shogran is the best place for me for 5 reasons: it is affordable, it takes less time to reach, it is easy to get to, it is quiet, and the air is clean. From Islamabad it takes about 6 hours, and the road from Kiwai is fully developed, so you can drive up in your own car. The night sky there is beautiful too. My full plan is in the Shogran travel guide, and I compare it with its neighbour in Shogran or Naran?.
What I pack for a smog escape
- My laptop, so I can work peacefully from the mountains
- A jacket
- Some polo shirts
- 2 denim pants
- Night suits, so I can sleep in comfortable clothes
- The medicines my doctor prescribed me, in case I do not feel better in a day or two
That is all. My complete list, season by season, is in my packing list.
What the research says (not my experience)
These are general facts from other sources, not claims about me.
- Punjab has a yearly smog season. News reports put it from late October to February, peaking from November to January, with Lahore often topping the world list of most polluted cities. My own symptoms start earlier, in late September, at my home. Arab News covers the 2025 season.
- Doctors have studied how air pollution affects allergic rhinitis. An international expert review says air pollutants can aggravate it, and also says more research is needed. You can read it here: International expert consensus on allergic rhinitis aggravated by air pollutants.
If you want to try a smog escape
- Talk to your doctor first. A trip is not a treatment, and I am not telling you to skip your medicines.
- Choose a high-altitude place with clean air. For me that is Shogran in October.
- Give it 7 to 10 days. It took me 2 to 3 days just to feel better.
- Carry your prescribed medicines.
- Plan the trip. My trip cost post shows what to expect, and my best time guide explains why October works.
Quick answers
- When does my allergy start? After 15 September. It peaks by about 10 October.
- How fast do I feel better in the north? About 2 to 3 days.
- How long do I stay? 7 to 10 days.
- Which place is best for me? Shogran.
- Is this medical advice? No. It is my experience. Please talk to your doctor.
Related: Shogran travel guide · Shogran or Naran? · Best time to visit · What to pack
This post is my personal experience and is not medical advice. I am not a doctor. Please talk to your doctor about your own symptoms, and read my disclaimer. If you have had a similar experience, tell me on the contact page.