Prime Minister Imran has underscored the need for countries to have a "combined strategy" to help vulnerable communities amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing a virtual summit of the International Labour Organisation, the premier outlined the steps Pakistan has taken so far to help those affected by the virus. "When we enforced a lockdown, the vulnerable people, labourers became unemployed and had no way to feed their families. We then came up with a 'smart lockdown' strategy."

"We also decided we needed to transfer cash to labourers. We set up a system for them to register with Ehsaas, our cash transfer system. Never before had so much cash been disbursed in Pakistan's history."