The Last Colporteur in Paris

A 73-year-old newspaper vendor originally from Pakistan will soon receive one of France's most prestigious awards, after more than half a century spent selling daily newspapers on the terraces of cafes and restaurants in Paris's popular Latin Quarter.

Ali Akbar began selling newspapers upon arriving in France in 1973, using a mix of humor and energy to win over the local population and counter declining sales, Reuters writes.

President Emmanuel Macron will award him the title of Knight of the National Order of Merit in September, which recognizes exceptional merits by civilians and military personnel in the service of France.

Born in Rawalpindi, in northern Pakistan, Akbar began his career selling copies of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo to students at the Sorbonne and surrounding institutions.

Colporteurs had already all but disappeared from Paris by the 1970s, as television increasingly supplanted print media as the main source of information. This process was accelerated by the advent of the internet.

However, Akbar, the last remaining colporteur in the French capital, has managed to keep this tradition alive thanks to his smile, wit and dedication, according to the British agency.

"I just love the feel of paper under my fingers," Akbar said. "I don't like tablets and all that digital stuff. But I love reading. Anything. Real books. Never on a screen."

"I have a special way of selling newspapers. I try to make jokes. To make people laugh. I try to be positive and to create an atmosphere... I try to reach their hearts, not their pockets," he added.

However, the job is much more difficult today in the era of digital publishing.

"I sell about 20 copies of 'L'Oréal' in eight hours. Everything is digital now. People simply don't buy newspapers anymore," he said.

Despite such challenges, Akbar intends to continue selling newspapers as long as his health allows.

In a neighborhood where high-fashion boutiques and luxury restaurants have largely replaced the bookstores that once housed some of the 20th century's most famous philosophers, many residents say he is what makes the Latin Quarter authentic.

"But he's an institution. I buy 'Mond' from him every day. Actually, we do more than that, we don't just buy the newspaper. We have coffee with him, sometimes we have lunch," said a grateful customer, Marie-Laure Carriere.