KARACHI - The exporters are facing billion of rupees losses due to non-availability of transport in wake of continued wheel jam strike by cargo carriers which halted the foreign trade of the country. The Karachi Goods Carriers Association announced strike for an indefinite period on last Tuesday against the increase in diesel prices, 100 percent rise in toll tax by the government and rising incidents of truck hijacking in Sindh. The strike was continued on Saturday as goods transporters parked thousands of trucks, container carriers and other loading transports on the Keamari and Hawksbay roads and announced that the strike will continue till the acceptance of their demands. A cement exporter while talking to The Nation said the goods transporters have refused to take the cargo from the factories to ports which resulted in a huge financial loss to exporters on daily basis. The export consignments were also lying at our factories for last four days and delay in the shipment would cause billions of rupees losses, he said, demanding that government should accept the demands of transporters. According to exporters and importers, the foreign trade halted due to strike as no trucks available to carry the goods from factories as well as from port to factories. They added that due to the persistent strike, they were unable to deliver their export cargo to the port which has resulted in missing of scheduled vessels. Meanwhile, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries demanded that government should resolve the issue of transporters strike at port which is causing more problems for business community especially for exporters and importers. The business activities have already been affected due to frequent increase in fuel prices and essential food items and unstable law and order situation. In a statement issued on Saturday, KCCI said that government should take notice of transporters strike as this act tantamount to destabilize in its statement democracy. The country is facing worst economic crisis and this sort of act would create more difficulties for this government. KCCI said the strike was creating serious hardship for exporters and importers, besides inflicting huge losses to national exchequer. Because of departing of four cargo ships without loading goods from port owing to transporters strike would further deteriorate the economic activities. The shortage of necessary items besides heavy demurrage charges to be borne by the business community would further worst the situation. The continuation of strike may push the inflation to the higher side resulting in more economic problems for the common man also, KCCI says and urges upon the government to take positive measures to resolve the issues on war-footing basis.   On the other side, a representative of APTMA showing the concern towards Goods Transporters' Strike said export of textile sector had been badly affected by the strike and the exporters may not be able to meet their commitments with the foreign buyers which in turn shall affect badly on their future business of foreign trade. While, Engineer Jabbar, office-bearer of FPCCI, has shown serious concern over the goods transport strike. He demanded that not demurrage should be imposed shipments because they are not responsible for non-clearance of Cargo from ports. This delay in shipments was hampering the business activities and production process, he said and added the export-oriented sector has been badly affected due to the strike as the export shipments from the Karachi.