Prompt library Civil servants, Introductory, Across government, Summarising
Summarise a long document
Get the key points, decisions, conditions and deadlines out of a long report, policy or file.
Last reviewed: . Reviewer: Muhammad Asadullah.
Before you paste anything: replace names, CNIC numbers and other personal details with placeholders and never use classified material. Use only AI tools your department allows.
When to use it
You have a long document to read and need to know quickly what it says, what it requires and what it leaves out.
The prompt
Summarise the document below for a government officer in Pakistan.
[Paste the document or attach it if your approved tool allows files]
Give me:
1. A summary in five to eight bullet points
2. Every decision, requirement or instruction it contains
3. Every condition and exception, quoted exactly, including words such as "subject to", "provided that" and "unless"
4. All dates, deadlines and figures, each with the section or page where it appears
5. Anything important the document does not say that a reader might expect
Use only the document. If you are not sure of something, say so. Do not add outside information.How to fill it in
- Long documents may be too big for one go. If the tool cuts off or the summary skips later sections, paste the document in parts and summarise each. See context window.
- Say who the summary is for if it matters: "for a Secretary who has two minutes".
Before you use the result
- Check point 3 against the original. Conditions are what summaries most often drop.
- Open the pages cited in point 4 and confirm every figure.
- Never quote the summary as if it were the document.
Related module: Summaries and briefings.