Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on August 4, 2025
3 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleAli Akbar, Paris' last newspaper vendor, is honored by President Macron with the National Order of Merit for his dedication over 50 years.
By Noemie Olive
PARIS (Reuters) -A 73-year-old newspaper vendor originally from Pakistan is set to receive one of France's most prestigious honours after more than 50 years of selling dailies on the terraces of cafes and restaurants in Paris' fashionable Latin Quarter.
Ali Akbar began hawking newspapers after moving to France in 1973, employing a blend of humour and energy to charm locals and ward off falling sales.
In September, President Emmanuel Macron will make him a knight of the National Order of Merit, which recognises distinguished service to France in a civilian or military capacity.
A native of Rawalpindi in northern Pakistan, Akbar began by hawking copies of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo to students in the Sorbonne and neighbouring institutions.
Kerb-side newspaper sellers were already a dying breed in Paris in the 1970s as television steadily replaced the printed word as the main source of news - a process that only accelerated with the advent of the internet.
But Akbar, the last remaining newspaper vendor still walking the streets of the French capital, has managed to keep the tradition alive with his ready smile, cheeky sense of humour and sheer dedication.
"I just love the feel of paper," Akbar said. "I don’t like tablets and all that kind of stuff. But I do like reading. Whatever the type. Real books. But never on screens."
"I have a certain way of selling newspapers. I try to make jokes. So people laugh. I try to be positive and I create an atmosphere... I try and get into people's hearts, not their pockets," he said.
But the job has become much harder in the era of digital publishing.
"I sell about 20 copies of Le Monde in eight hours. Everything is digital now. People just don’t buy newspapers," he said.
Despite such challenges, Akbar intends to sell newspapers as long as his health permits.
In a district where high-end fashion boutiques and eateries have largely replaced the bookstores that once nourished some of the world’s most renowned 20th century philosophers, many locals say he’s one of the things that keeps the Latin Quarter genuine.
"Ali is an institution. I buy Le Monde from him every day. In fact, we do a little more than buy Le Monde for him. We have coffee with him, sometimes we have lunch with him," said one grateful customer, Marie-Laure Carriere.
(Reporting by Noemie Olive; writing by Yann Tessier; Editing by Richard Lough and Gareth Jones)
Ali Akbar is a 73-year-old newspaper vendor from Pakistan who has been selling newspapers in Paris for over 50 years.
Ali Akbar will be made a knight of the National Order of Merit by President Emmanuel Macron in recognition of his distinguished service.
Ali Akbar faces significant challenges due to the rise of digital publishing, which has drastically reduced newspaper sales.
He engages with customers by using humor and positivity, aiming to create a friendly atmosphere rather than just focusing on sales.
Ali Akbar prefers physical newspapers and books over digital media, expressing a love for the feel of paper and traditional reading.
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