From Rawalpindi to Élysée Palace: Paris newspaper hawker receives top honour from President Macron
Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Ali Akbar arrived in Paris in 1973 and discovered newspaper selling almost by chance.
For more than 50 years, Ali Akbar, originally from Pakistan, has walked the streets of Paris, selling newspapers, trading jokes with café-goers and greeting generations of regulars in the city's Left Bank.
On Wednesday (28 January), the 73-year-old, widely regarded as France's last newspaper hawker, received national recognition for a lifetime spent on the pavements of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, reports The Guardian.
At a ceremony at the Élysée Palace, President Emmanuel Macron awarded Akbar the National Order of Merit, calling him "the most French of the French" and praising his daily presence as a living voice of the French press.
Macron said, "You are the accent of the sixth arrondissement, the voice of the French press on Sunday mornings. And every other day of the week, for that matter.
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"A warm voice that, every day for more than 50 years, has boomed across the terraces of Saint-Germain, making its way between restaurant tables."
In an August interview with Reuters, Akbar expressed his joy about his daily strolls through Paris. "It's love," he remarked while navigating the charming cobblestone streets of Saint Germain-des-Prés.
"If it was for the money, I could do something else. But I have a great time with these people."
Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Akbar arrived in Paris in 1973 and discovered newspaper selling almost by chance.
Facing visa problems and financial issues, he sought work that would allow him to support his parents and seven siblings back home.
With help from a fellow street vendor, he joined the city's small community of newspaper sellers, winning customers with humour, stamina and warmth.
Over the years, Akbar sold papers to politicians, students and intellectuals – among them future president Macron.
His early life in Paris was harsh; he slept rough and lived in cramped rooms while sending money to his family.
Gradually, he built a stable life, married and raised five children.
As print media declined, so did sales. From once selling hundreds of copies a day, Akbar now sells only a few dozen.
Still, he refuses to give up. He says his goal has never been profit but connection – making people smile and feel part of a shared moment.
