By InfoCandle: | Muhammad Nadeem -August 2025
France’s last newspaper seller. One man stands out in a peaceful area of Paris where cobblestone streets blend with the hum of electric scooters—not because he is ostentatious or noisy, but rather because he stands for something that the modern world is abandoning: the printed newspaper.
He’s not French by birth. He’s from Pakistan.
And he may be the last traditional newspaper seller in all of France.
A Story of France last newspaper seller Familiar Face in a Changing City
Muhammad Farooq, a 67-year-old Lahorean immigrant, opens his small kiosk close to the 11th arrondissement every morning as the city starts to wake up. Copies of Le Monde, Libération, Le Figaro, and a few foreign newspapers are meticulously arranged by him.
Locals know him by name. Some stop by not just to buy a paper, but to chat, smile, and share a coffee. In a world of headlines delivered by algorithm, Farooq delivers them by hand—with a human touch that’s becoming rare.
From Lahore to Paris: A Dream with Ink on His Hands
Farooq came to France in the early 1980s with little more than a dream. Like many immigrants, he took on odd jobs—dishwashing, construction, night shifts. But what fascinated him most wasn’t tech or trends—it was the French love for print.
“I remember my first day selling newspapers,” he recalls with a smile. “I couldn’t speak French well, but I understood headlines. I read every paper I sold.”
Within a few years, Farooq became a licensed vendeur de journaux, a newspaper seller. He bought his tiny kiosk in the early ’90s and never looked back.
A Business in Decline—but Not a Spirit
Over the past two decades, Farooq has watched his industry shrink.
Once, he’d sell hundreds of papers a day. Now, it’s sometimes fewer than 30. The pandemic made things worse, and digital subscriptions have nearly killed the street-selling model.
But Farooq is still there—rain or shine, seven days a week.
Not for profit, but for purpose.
“Some people tell me to retire,” he chuckles, “but then who will be here to say ‘Bonjour’ with the paper?”
The Last of His Kind?
According to the French Press Syndicate, Farooq might truly be the last independent newspaper vendor in France. Larger kiosks have been automated or converted into snack stands. News now comes through screens, not inky fingers.
But Farooq insists he’s not sad.
“People need real things,” he says. “Paper smells different. It feels like truth. Even if only a few still want it—I’ll be here.”
More Than a Job—It’s a Legacy
To many Parisians, Farooq is more than a seller—he’s a living symbol.
“He knows everyone,” says Camille, a longtime customer. “He remembers your birthday, asks how your kids are. He’s part of this neighborhood’s heart.”
Farooq’s kiosk has even been featured in local art shows, documentaries, and blog posts. His life, in a way, is a story worth printing.
What Happens Next?
Farooq is unsure of how long he can continue.
He mentions eventually giving the kiosk to someone who is as hungry as he was, perhaps a younger immigrant. However, there are no plans to automate it. No system that relies solely on QR codes. Just stories, smiles, and paper.
“Every paper has a person behind it,” he says, holding up Le Monde. “Journalists, printers, delivery boys—and me. I’m the last step.”
Final Thoughts: A Small Stand in a Big World
Muhammad Farooq reminds us of a crucial point in a time when everything is instantaneous, digital, and disposable:
That some traditions are worth holding on to.
That even in a hyper-connected world, human connection matters.
And that sometimes, the biggest stories come from the quietest corners.
So if you’re ever in Paris, near the 11th arrondissement, stop by the little green kiosk. Buy a newspaper. Shake a hand. Say bonjour.
You won’t just be buying news—you’ll be part of history.
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