NEW DELHI, Feb 5: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said on Monday it was his dream that Amritsar became a trade hub because of improved relations with Pakistan.

Improvement in relations with Pakistan could help improve trade in border areas of India’s Punjab state, including Amritsar, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur leading to economic development of the region, Dr Singh said while addressing a Congress election rally in Amristar.

“It is my dream that Amritsar becomes a trade hub as a result of improvement of relations with Pakistan,” he said.

The benefit of improved relations in the future will help trade get a boost up to Central Asia, he said.

The Amritsar rally was Dr Singh’s first of the three he is scheduled to attend in the state. He was to address a rally in Jalandhar on Monday while two meetings are scheduled in Patiala and Ludhiana on Tuesday.

With a Congress government at the centre, the return of the ruling party to power in the state could further accelerate the pace of development, said the prime minister.—APP