The True Post (Web News) On the busy streets of Paris, the capital of France, where digital media has almost made newspapers extinct, a man can still be seen selling newspapers early in the morning in the traditional way.
It is none other than 72-year-old Pakistani-origin Ali Akbar, who has been announced as being awarded France’s highest civilian honor, the “National Order of Merit.”
Who is Ali Akbar?
Ali Akbar hails from Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He came to France in 1973 in search of work and, after doing odd jobs in Paris, took up the profession of selling newspapers. Since then, he has kept alive the tradition of selling newspapers on the streets of Paris — at a time when the profession has almost disappeared in Europe.
The decline of the newspaper industry, but Ali Akbar’s courage remains
Even when digital media almost wiped out newspaper sales in the past few decades, Ali Akbar didn’t give up. He is one of the last people in Paris who still goes out every morning to sell newspapers on a bicycle or in a bag.
Ali Akbar is known as “the last newspaper vendor of Paris” and now his services have been recognized by France with a major honor, Reuters reports.
France’s “National Order of Merit” Why this honor?
Ali Akbar will be awarded the “National Order of Merit” by French President Emmanuel Macron in September 2025, which is France’s second highest civilian honor. This honor is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to French society, regardless of their background. Ali Akbar is being honored for his half-century of promoting Parisian urban culture, local economy, and street culture.
A place of pride for the Pakistani community
This honor is not only a recognition of Ali Akbar’s personal hard work but also a moment of pride for the Pakistani community, which is proving itself worldwide with its hard work, integrity, and dedication. In this journey from Rawalpindi to Paris, Ali Akbar is not just a newspaper vendor, but a living legend a symbol of hard work, perseverance, and sincerity.
