Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Who controlled Karachi before the British captured it in 1839?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Karachi
A view of Karachi, Pakistan.
Before the British captured Karachi in 1839, the city was controlled by the Talpur amirs.1
The Talpur dynasty, a Balochi tribe that established rule over Sindh, gained control of Karachi from the khan of Kalat in 1795. Following this acquisition, the Talpur amirs fortified the area by erecting a permanent fort on Manora Head to defend the harbor.21