MIRAMSHAH, May 27: In the presence of big problems like flour and power crises in the country and growing militancy in the tribal region, tribesmen in North Waziristan Agency are concerned over shortage of snuff in the area.

The importance of snuff, locally known as Naswar, in the life of tribesmen could be gauged when the local manufactures decided to go on strike on Tuesday against the hike in prices of items used in snuff making.

Hundreds of thousands of addicts were seen running from one shop to other to get a small packet of Naswar.

The manufactures, however, paid no heed to them and went on strike closing their outlets to protest the unbridled price hike in the stuffs used in snuff manufacturing. The strike caused panic and a huge rush was witnessed outside the shops in Miramshah bazaar, raising the price of Naswar from Rs2 to Rs10 per packet.

Local manufacturers said that their business had been running into losses due to sky rocketing prices. They have decided to increase price of the snuff from Rs35 to Rs70 per kilogramme.

People, on the other hand, showed strong resentment over the strike and increase in the price of snuff. They complained that people had already suffered because of the sky rocketing prices of essential food items and other commodities.

Tribesmen declared that if manufacturers did not reduce price of snuff, they would import it from Bannu district.