Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan opened the construction sector to "benefit the labourers who were its backbone".

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he said that the premier's foremost concern regarding a lockdown was the impact it would have on labourers and daily-wage workers.

"We provided them with Rs12,000 while upholding their self-respect. We gave incentives to industries to retain them during the lockdown. We opened the construction sector even though we faced criticism for doing so," Shibli said.