'He's An Institution': Ali Akbar, Paris' Last Newspaper Hawker, To Be Honoured By Macron
Ali Akbar (73) will receive France's National Order of Merit for his dedication to supplying newspapers in Paris. President Macron will honor him in September.
Ali Akbar, a 73-year-old newspaper vendor originally from Pakistan's Rawalpindi, is set to receive one of France's most prestigious honours — the National Order of Merit — for his remarkable dedication in supplying newspapers to cafes and restaurants in Paris' fashionable Latin Quarter for several decades.
In September, President Emmanuel Macron will make him a knight of the National Order of Merit – an honour typically reserved for those who render distinguished service to the nation in a civilian or military capacity.
Having moved to France in 1973, Akbar has spent over 50 years selling dailies. Known for his warm smile, humour, and unwavering commitment, he has become a beloved local figure and the last of Paris's traditional street newspaper vendors.
'I just love the feel of paper," news agency Reuters quoted Akbar, who prefers physical print over digital news, as saying.
'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," he said, adding, '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."
In a district now dominated by upscale boutiques and restaurants, Akbar remains a cherished reminder of the Latin Quarter's literary past.
Speaking to Reuters, a longtime customer, Marie-Laure Carriere, described Akbar as an 'institution."
'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," Carriere, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
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