WASHINGTON, July 11: Senior bank and postal officials are touring the United States these days, urging Pakistani-Americans to use legal channels to send money home to relatives or friends.

During a Western Union reception this weekend, representative of the National Bank and the Pakistan Post Office told their compatriots that using informal channels could cause problems for their relatives in Pakistan.

The money received through informal channels, they said, cannot be used for buying homes, investments or other legal purposes in Pakistan, the officials said. Those found with large sums of money sent through illegal channels may also be asked to explain to police and income tax officials how they received the money and may even end up in jail.

The officials said in some cases informal foreign exchange dealers were found to have links with various gangs.