In a deeply moving ceremony at the Élysée Palace, French President Emmanuel Macron awarded France’s highest civilian honours to Pakistan-born newspaper vendor Ali Akbar, recognizing his half-century of service to French public life.

On Wednesday, Macron formally made Ali Akbar a Knight of the National Order of Merit, France’s prestigious award for bravery, loyalty, and service. The president embraced and congratulated the 73-year-old hawker, calling the moment a tribute to perseverance and dignity.

Speaking at the Élysée Palace, Macron praised Akbar’s “incredible destiny,” thanking him for selling newspapers in Paris for over 50 years. He said Akbar carried “the world in his arms and France in his heart,” describing him as the voice of the French press.

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Beloved voice of Parisian cafés

Macron recalled how Akbar’s booming calls filled iconic Paris cafés such as Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots, and the Brasserie Lipp. He called Akbar “the accent of the 6th arrondissement” and a living symbol of Parisian street culture.

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Born into a large family in Rawalpindi, Ali Akbar left Pakistan decades ago to escape extreme poverty and support his family. His journey took him through Afghanistan, Iran, and Greece before he finally reached France in the early 1970s.

Early struggles, survival

After arriving in France, Akbar worked as a sailor and later as a dishwasher in the northern city of Rouen. Eventually, he moved to Paris, where chance led him to French satirist Georges Bernier, who helped him begin selling satirical newspapers like Hara-Kiri and Charlie Hebdo.

Akbar began selling newspapers in the upscale Saint-Germain-des-Prés area, where his sensational headlines, humor, and distinctive voice made him a local legend. Over time, French became his language of expression, which Macron said he learned to “play with and make his own.”

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Despite his popularity, Akbar’s life was far from easy. He experienced homelessness, extreme poverty, and even violent attacks, yet continued working with resilience and optimism on the streets of Paris.

Still selling papers at 73

Even today, Akbar continues to sell newspapers daily, averaging around 30 copies a day, compared to 150–200 when he first started. He survives on a modest pension of 1,000 euros a month but says he has no plans to stop working.

Overcome with emotion after receiving the medal, Akbar said he was “deeply moved” and proud of the honor. Smiling through tears, he declared, “That’s it, I’m a knight! I’ve made it!” and said he already knew what he would shout on Paris streets next.

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Symbol of integration, hope

Macron praised Akbar as a powerful example of integration, saying stories like his make France “stronger and prouder.” He noted that many people, like Akbar, fled poverty in search of freedom and went on to enrich French society.

Despite the honor, Akbar said his mission remains the same: to entertain, inform, and connect with people. “I’m going to continue selling newspapers,” he said, adding that joy, jokes, and human connection matter more to him than fame.