Seeking another term for for Congress in Punjab, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday that this was needed to take the state on the road to progress and prosperity and make it the number one in the country.

Addressing party rallies in Amritsar and Jalandhar in the run-up to February 13 assembly polls, he asked people to vote overwhelmingly for Congress to completely change the face of Punjab.

Time had come to make Punjab the number one state in the country, he said, adding 'a Congress government at the Centre and return of the ruling party in the state will further accelerate the pace of development'.

"Punjab has to emerge as number one in the country," he told the rally in Amritsar amid thundering applause.

Listing achievements of the state government, the prime minister said much had been done on the development front in the past five years under the leadership of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

Modernisation of railway stations, strengthening of telecommunication system and laying of road network were highlights of the Congress rule but much more needed to be done, he said.

"I appeal to you to strengthen Amarinder Singh's hands to ensure development of the state," Dr Singh said.

Speaking in Punjabi, Dr Singh immediately struck a chord with the masses, recalling the days he spent in the holy city.

During his speech, the prime minister dwelt on improvement in relations between India and Pakistan in the past two-and-a-half years. He said Punjab would immensely benefit if the trade route with Pakistan was opened up.