PARACHINAR, Jan 8: Tribal elders will meet here on Wednesday to persuade the rival sects in the Kurram Agency to sign a peace agreement to give their ceasefire understanding a formal shape.

Sources said there were some minor hitches in finalisation of the agreement.

A representative jirga from Hangu with cooperation of the political administration is making efforts to broker a durable accord.

The situation in the region is under control and no major fighting or clashes have taken place over the past few days.

However, the fighting and prolonged curfew have multiplied the miseries of people. Roads to the cities and settled areas have been lying closed for a long time and local people have no access to markets to get commodities of daily use. Patients are also facing problems in the cold weather.

Local people say that they might face a famine if the government and international aid agencies failed to ensure early supply of relief goods in the area.