A Pakistani citizen on Friday plead guilty to illegally attempting to export nuclear material to organizations in his homeland that are classed "of concern" to US national security, justice officials said.

Nadeem Akhtar, 46, faces up to five years in jail and a $250,000 fine, for conducting a scheme to provide restricted items to clients in Pakistan, including agencies of the government in Islamabad.

Akhtar, a legal permanent US resident, used his company, Computer Communication USA, to try and obtain radiation detection devices, resins for coolant water purification and calibration equipment over a five-year period.

A license was required to export the restricted nuclear materials given their possible use in commercial or military environments.

"Akhtar conspired to violate export regulations by selling controlled items while misrepresenting what they were and to whom they would be sold," said District of Maryland Attorney Rod Rosenstein.

Akhtar also unlawfully obtained or attempted to obtain or export mechanical and electrical valves, cranes and scissor lifts, according to a department of justice statement.

"The restricted entities in Pakistan included organizations of concern to the US government as acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States," the statement said.

Akhtar took direction from the owner of a trading company in Karachi, Pakistan's economic hub, "who had business relationships with governmental entities in Pakistan," it added, noting that he received commission on deals.

He also tried to evade US regulations by using third parties and real or fake businesses in Pakistan, Dubai and the United States, and by conspiring with contacts in Illinois and California to procure items for him under false pretenses.

Akhtar, who remains in US custody, is due to be sentenced on January 6.